Saturday, October 31, 2026

1. Signal of the Day · Regulation & Policy

   Senate HELP chair releases PATIENT AI Act discussion draft on AI oversight, HIPAA guidance and AI payment

   What happenedHELP chair Bill Cassidy released a PATIENT AI Act discussion draft Oct. 29 that would clarify FDA versus ONC oversight and create a payment pathway; comments close Dec. 1.

   Why it mattersSNF and AL/SL operators would get HHS guidance on HIPAA-compliant AI use, and non-device AI would enter ONC certification, reaching them through EHR vendors.

   For leadersWeigh comments by Dec. 1 on the HIPAA guidance, the liability study, and extending device preemption of state product-liability laws to software.

   HighBy Senate HELP CommitteeRead at source ↗

2. AI Tech & Frameworks

   Epic says it will keep providing AI transparency documentation that the ONC rule no longer requires

   What happenedEpic said in an Oct. 30 LinkedIn post, per Becker's, that customers keep its AI evaluation tools and documentation ONC no longer requires; it did not say every element continues.

   Why it mattersSNF and AL/SL operators on other EHRs now depend on vendor choice and contract terms, not certification, for model disclosures about decision-support tools.

   For leadersAsk post-acute EHR vendors in writing whether model-card style disclosures for decision-support tools will continue after the certification change.

   MedBy Naomi Diaz · Becker'sRead at source ↗

3. Regulation & Policy Surfaced late · published October 26

   First study of Medicare's WISeR prior-authorization pilot finds targeted services fell 15% to about 20%

   What happenedA JAMA study from Minnesota and Brown researchers found WISeR-targeted services fell 15% to about 20% versus other states in the first six months.

   Why it mattersWISeR covers outpatient services, not SNF stays, so SNF and AL/SL operators are not directly affected; this is the pilot's first outcome evidence.

   For leadersWatch whether CMS expands WISeR and whether follow-up research shows the forgone care was wasteful or necessary.

   MedBy Virgil McDill · UMN School of Public HealthRead at source ↗

How this was made: an AI agent selects public sources and drafts each summary; every headline links to the original reporting. Not legal or compliance advice.

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